Various Contractors Reusable Combined Cycle Flight Demonstrator (X-43B) concepts

[flateric]

As you probably know, Reusable Combined Cycle Flight Demonstration (RCCFD) Project, known as the X-43B, 'would demonstrate an engine capable of operating in several modes. The X-43B’s combined cycle engine would function as a normal turbojet at low altitudes and switch to scramjet mode at high altitudes and speeds. Planned X-43B flights were to occur sometime in 2009 after the completion of another Hyper-X test vehicle, the X-43C.'

X-43B was cancelled. Boeing's contender (canard) was a preffered concept. Bot how other did look like?

Source
NASA HYPERSONIC FLIGHT DEMONSTRATORS — OVERVIEW, STATUS, AND FUTURE PLANS
by Paul L. Moses, Vincent L. Rausch, Luat T. Nguyen, and Jeryl R. Hill
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USA
54th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation,
the International Academy of Astronautics, and the International Institute of Space Law
29 September - 3 October 2003, Bremen, Germany

 

[flateric]

...And that's how Boeing's RCCFD proposal has evolved from semi-classical NASP-type shape (with hard MDC roots) into canard wing configuration till 2001.

Source
CONFIGURATION DEVELOPMENT FOR A HYDROCARBON FUELED HYPERSONIC CRUISE VEHICLE
Donald B. Johnson, Thomas J. Bogar
The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO
James L. Hunt
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

 

[KJ_Lesnick]

Re: Various Contractors Reusable Combined Cycle Flight Demonstrator (X-43B) conc

The turbojet duct gets closed off at ramjet speeds right?

KJ Lesnick

 

[flateric]

sure

 

[flateric]

well, citing - I was right for TBCC and wrong for RBCC

Two different engine systems are being considered for the X-43B.

The first is a rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engine, which is a scramjet with rockets imbedded in the internal flow-path. With this engine approach, the rockets are operated initially, up to a flight speed of Mach 3 or 4. The rockets are then turned off, and the engine is operated in ram/scramjet mode to Mach 7-8 for hydrocarbon fuel, or Mach 12-15 for hydrogen fuel.

The second is a turbine based combination cycle (TBCC) system, which uses separate low and high-speed engines. Hydrocarbon-fueled
turbojet or turbo-ramjet engines are used for flight up to Mach 4, and then separate ram/scramjet engines are used for flight up to Mach 7-8 (hydrocarbon fuel) or Mach 12-15 (hydrogen fuel).

 

[flateric]

Artist's impressions of X-43B
Hi-res images available at http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/photos/2002/photos02-182.html

 

[Triton]

X-43B concept model

X-43 concept model found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NASA-X-43C-TBCC-concept-model-very-rare-/180995878105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2431ecd9

 

[DSE]

Re: X-43B concept model

Except it was the X-43B which had both a TBCC and an RBCC (ISTAR) variant. X-43C was to use a 3-module version of the USAF HyTech engine with a NASA designed rotating cowl flap ala X-43A and had no low speed system.

http://researchernews.larc.nasa.gov/archives/2003/102403/X43C.html



<fixed topic name>